Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students:
We’ve had a fantastic start to the 2021-2022 school year!
Please be aware of the following changes to start and end times: Students are permitted in the building at 7:30 A.M., and must be in the building by 8:00 A.M. Dismissal begins at 3:25 P.M.
The Riverside Academy staff continues to focus on keeping students safe while implementing rigorous academic work and caring for the whole child. To that end, masks are optional but are strongly encouraged for those who have not been vaccinated.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for trusting us with your scholars. If you know anyone looking for a school that is safe and student-focused, we still have spots available!
We’ve almost made it through a pandemic. Together we can make it through anything!
Sincerely,
Ms. Elizabeth Lucas
Principal
Upcoming Events
September 6
Labor Day – No School
September 10
Progress Reports Distributed
September 14
Title I Meeting – Time To Be Determined
September 20
Professional Development – No School for Students
Our Director of Academics
Hello! My name is Ms. Sabura Rashad, and I am the Director of Academics for Riverside Academy. This is my 25th year in education. During those years I’ve been a dean of students, an assistant principal, interim principal, department head, instructional trainer and have taught most subjects K-12. I specialize in transformative urban education because I believe that every student deserves to achieve their personal excellence. I am an alumna of Tuskegee University and University of Toledo with concentrations in STEM and multicultural education. I am honored to be part of the Riverside Academy team as we work together to successful support the future generations.
Our Office Manager
Hello Riverside Families! My name is Sherri Yates and I am your office manager. I originally grew up in Bellevue, KY and I earned an Art Degree from Morehead State University. After working 5 years in Human Resources and Operations at Frisch’s Corporate office, I stayed home to raise 3 children. My youngest just started her senior year at Oak Hills, where my husband has been a teacher for over 20 years. I worked for 7 years as the office manager at our sister school Winton Prep (now Northside Prep) and transferred to Riverside a year ago.
I love working here at Riverside and I am so excited that we are finally back in school and able have face to face learning with full classes! I am here to serve you! If you need anything from the office, please give me a call or email me at syates2@acariverside.com. Teamwork makes the dream work!
Syates2@acariverside.com
Our Counselor
Ms. Chandler Sollmann – Counselor
csollmann@acariverside.com
Hello Riverside families,
My name is Chandler Sollmann and I am the school counselor at Riverside Academy. This is my second year with Riverside and I am so excited to be back to work with your students and you to help ensure success in their school year! I received my bachelor’s degree in psychology with a double minor in special education and child studies from Miami University. After getting my bachelor’s degree with Miami, I continued my education with them to get a graduate certificate is Autism Spectrum Disorders while also getting my master of education with UC in behavior analysis. I received my certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in 2020. Prior to working at Riverside I was a school age specialist working within nine different elementary schools and moved on to be a behavior therapist in a local severe behavior unit with alternative school placements.
My goal while working at Riverside Academy is to help your student(s) become well-rounded individuals while supporting their academic growth, but by also making sure that the develop the social-emotional skills they need to cope, learn, and grow through their big feelings and life’s challenges. It is important to me that all needs of the students are met and I yearn to be an advocate and support for your child(ren). We, at Riverside, take great pride in teaching, loving, and encouraging the whole child and not just their grades. Your children are constantly teaching me something new and I value the relationships I build with them and their families every day.
I’m grateful to be back with Riverside for another school year where I am privileged with your trust to protect and serve your student and family. I look forward to the teamwork and many successes to come this year!
MEET THE TEACHERS!
Mrs. Kelsey Carter – Kindergarten
kcarter@acariverside.com
Hi! My name is Mrs. Carter and I am thrilled to be teaching Kindergarten this year at Riverside Academy! We will have lots of fun learning so many things this year. I can’t wait to learn all about my scholars and their family at home! But first, let me share a little bit about myself. I was born and raised in Ohio! I am an Ohio State University Buckeye fan. However, I did not attend OSU. I received my master’s in education in December 2020 from Grand Canyon University. I have a husband, a son named Ivan, and a dog named Emma. Ivan is almost 5 years old and Emma is almost 7. Ivan will be starting Kindergarten this year just like you! When I am not teaching or planning great things for us to do, I enjoy vacations with my family to wonderful places around the world. I also enjoy just spending time with my family at home. We love to go to the zoo, Kings Island, and museums! There is so much I am looking forward to this year. We will learn all about reading and writing! We will also be learning math, science, and social studies! I am most excited to teach my scholars how to read or to build on their already developing reading skills. Here are a few of my favorite things: Chocolate (all forms) The colors magenta, teal, and purple, Mexican restaurants Target, my family, my doggie, teaching 💜Mrs. Carter
Mr. Robert Fahrmeier – 1st Grade
rfahrmeier@acariverside.com
Dear Parents, Guardians and Students,
Hello! My name is Mr. Robert Fahrmeier and I am the first grade teacher at Riverside Academy. I have been teaching for the past 10 years in pre-school to Kindergarten. This is my first year teaching first grade and I am so excited about this new opportunity at Riverside. I earned my Bachelor’s of Arts in Communication from the College of Mount St. Joseph and later my master’s in Early Childhood Education also at Mount St. Joseph. After 7 years teaching kindergarten in the Mason area I have come here to be a Riverside Lion!
My philosophy is that all students can achieve and grow with the right frame of mind. As a teacher it is my job to help students to gain that mindset that they can grow in mind body and soul.
In my classroom we have 6 goals: Be Helpful. Be Kind. Be Honest. Be Safe. Do your best. Don’t give up. I want all students to feel empowered to become life-long learners. I look forward to this year and hope that we will all achieve and grow together.
Mr. Darren Cooley – 2nd Grade
dcooley@acariverside.com
Dear Parents, Guardians, and 2nd Graders:
Hello, my name is Mr. Darren Cooley, and I am an Instructional Aide for the 2nd grade classroom at Riverside Academy. This is my first year here, but I do have over 6 years of experience as an aide in various school and daycare settings. I earned my bachelor’s degree at The University of Cincinnati and my associate degree from Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. Having left the field of education for a time, I am quite excited to get back into the classroom once again.
I love being able to help students reach their potential. To me there is nothing more satisfying than working with a student who has been struggling and seeing them grasp a topic for the first time. I firmly believe every student has the capacity for growth and academic success when given a chance. Beyond academics, I look forward to seeing the students mature in their behavior and grow together.
This year will be a time of excitement, change, and growth for all of us. I can’t wait to get to know you all and help however I can. Go Lions!
Ms. Marj Williams – 2nd Grade
mwilliams5@acariverside.com
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students:
Hello! My name is Ms. Marj Williams, and I am the one-on-one aide at Riverside Academy. This is my first year in education. I earned my bachelor’s degree from Northern Kentucky University and my master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati. I am excited to be starting my educational journey as a Riverside Lion.
This year will be a time of excitement, change, and growth for you and me. I am so glad that I can be a part of this special time in your lives.
Mrs. Wendy Apperson – 3rd Grade
wapperson@acariverside.com
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students:
Hi! My name is Mrs. Wendy Apperson, and I’m a Title I teacher at Riverside Academy. My experience as a teacher includes 22 years working as a private tutor in the US and in Israel. I have taught students at the elementary school grade level for the past five years, and middle school for two years. I am working towards completing a master’s degree in Reading Science. This is my 2nd year teaching at Riverside Academy.
My love of teaching comes from a lifelong love of learning. I hope I can encourage students at Riverside Academy to share in the advantages of learning as a lifetime occupation. I use the Orton Gillingham (OG) language instructional approach, and OG mathematics teaching methods to support students in academic areas where they may be struggling and provide enrichment for those who need more open-ended academic challenges.
I’m excited to share with students at Riverside Academy in what I believe will be a successful and rewarding academic year! I look forward to communicating with you!
Mr. David Ladner – 4th Grade
dladner@acariverside.com
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students:
Hello, everyone! Welcome! My name is David Ladner, and I am the 4th Grade Teacher at Riverside Academy. A Chinese Proverb states, “If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people.” I believe that what happens in my classroom will affect your child for a lifetime. The things we will do will help them define their future ambitions and dreams. Their time with me and one another will be productive. They may even come exhausted from time to time because of all the thinking that was accomplished during the day! Every minute will count, and it will be time well spent! I look forward to partnering with you in the education of your child.
I have been preparing for this year, not only now, but throughout my lifetime. This is my 25th year in education. I have taught elementary, middle, and high school grade levels, with most of my classroom experience as a middle school teacher. I have served as a public elementary, middle, and high school principal, as well as a headmaster of a private PreK-12th grade school. I hold a bachelor’s degree from The University of Southern Mississippi in Elementary Education, and a master’s degree from William Carey University in Educational Leadership.
I have an awesome group of bright, young people in this class. I am anticipating a terrific and exciting year ahead filled with much learning! With your help, we can make it happen together!
Ms. Jaimee Hebert – 5th Grade
jhebert@acariverside.com
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students:
Hello! My name is Ms. Jaimee Hebert, and I am the fifth grade teacher at Riverside Academy. I am excited to start the school year and I can’t wait to get to know all of my students. This is my first year at Riverside and my first year teaching. I earned my bachelor’s degree at Mount Saint Joseph University after graduating from Oak Hills High School and Diamond Oaks Vocational School. I have a younger sister who is a junior in high school, two dogs and a cat.
From my first day of preschool I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I love teaching and will assist all my students in the classroom to learn and become more confident in their abilities. School wasn’t always easy for me and I know from personal experience that each student learns in a unique way. It is going to be a fun year of learning and new adventures for each of our students.
I am thrilled to be a Riverside Lion!
Ms. Arriane Brents – Middle School Language Arts and Social Studies
adbrents001@acariverside.com
Welcome to the 2021– 2022 school year! I am committed from the beginning of the school year to help your child foster skills socially, emotionally, enhance in character, and strengthen all skills required in the discipline of Language Arts and Social Studies. I am super excited to continue on the path we started before our working from home experience, and look forward to becoming acclimated to in-person school life!
Our team has always made a conscious effort to groom our students for global citizenship. A large part of that is taking time to explicitly teach and model social graces, integrity, and cultural sensitivity. I’m looking forward to the discussions we’ll have that will strengthen our moral compass, the school community, and the insights that the students will bring home.
The gains we’ve made in years past academically, I’m eager to continue. To keep track of your student’s progress you can expect to receive midterm reports every quarter, and short cycle assessments around every two weeks that requires a guardian’s signature. You can electronically check your student’s grades on Canvas for ELA and Social studies anytime for the most current standing of grades. Classdojo.com is a website that parents will be able to use to check the general behavior of your student in real time! More information will be sent home regarding this program and the APP you can download straight to your phone!
I look forward to speaking with you regarding your child’s progress this school year. Riverside has scheduled parent teacher conferences that are on the school’s calendar but you are always welcome to schedule a conference with me by telephone, or in person. This can be accomplished by emailing me, or calling the school.
Mr. Stephen Voegele – Middle School Math
Smvoegele001@acariverside.com
Dear Parents, Guardians and Students:
Hello! My name is Mr. Steve Voegele and I am entering my 24th year of teaching with 22 of those years here at Riverside Academy. I have earned two Bachelor’s degrees from University of Cincinnati. One in Communication and the other in Elementary Education. In my years of teaching I have taught Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth grades in all areas. Which I have been sharing with generations of Lions here at Riverside Academy.
My passion is teaching and I believe that every student can learn. I myself was not always the most studious of students but then something clicked and I learned that I could do anything I put my mind to. I want that for all of the students at Riverside Academy that can do attitude. They will be prepared for any Ohio Achievement tests and that the 8th graders when they leave will be prepared for High School and beyond. My job is to help all students to enjoy school and have a successful school year. I can’t wait until we get started.
If you ever need anything from me you can call the school at 513-921-7777 ext 40906 or email me at smvoegele001@acariverside.com.
Ms. Jamie Isidore – Middle School Language Arts and Social Studies
jisidore@acariversidec.com
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students:
Welcome to the 21-22 School Year at Riverside Academy!!! My name is Ms. Jamie Isidore, and I am the 6th and 8th Grade English of Language Arts /Social Studies! I have earned my bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Benedictine University in Illinois. This is my 5th year in education and during those years I have learned that all scholars grow emotionally, socially, physically and mentally within their learning environment and peers. Even if school hasn’t been a great experience for students in the past, scholars will find some success at school this year. I know some of you are pumped and excited to return into the building and are ready to learn everything you can! I want all of you to know that no matter how you feel, I am here for you and you should always remember, having positive thoughts generate positive feelings and attract positive life experiences. When we have good thoughts we often start to feel good, this is one of many reasons why I am here to serve you as a Riverside Lion!!
Note to Scholars: This year we are going to dive deep and focus on scholars reading, writing, and sharing; in which scholars will learn responsibility for their classwork and for their behavior. I’m not going to say that this year will be easy and I can say at times school will be challenging but the end results; I am telling you it’s going to be worth it! So as we start off this school year with amazing scholars, staff and parents, together we can push through. Just remember that this year will be exciting, challenging and rewarding all at the same time!
Note to Parents: I am committed to teach and inspire your scholars to their best educational abilities. I love teaching and helping all students succeed. You can electronically check your student’s grades on Canvas for ELA and Social studies anytime for the most current standing of grades. Classdojo.com is a website that you (parents) will be able to use to check general behavior of your scholar (s) in real time! More information will be sent home regarding this program and the APP you can download straight to your phone! I am looking forward to speaking to you about your scholar’s performances and behaviors. You can also set up a meeting with me by emailing me or contacting the school.
Once again, I am excited and looking forward to meeting and greeting you this coming school year!
Ms. Ronisha Byrd – Instructional Aide
rbyrd@acariverside.com
Hello! My name is Ronisha Byrd, and I am a instructional aide at Riverside academy. I have been in early education for 15 years. During that time I have been lead preschool teacher and also worked as a before and after school assistant. I have worked as a one on one aide for children with autism. I have an associate’s degree from Chatfield College in early childhood education. I enjoy helping and watching children grow into great individuals. I’m really excited to be part of the Riverside Academy family, and look forward to a great school year!
Mrs. Nancy Herzner – Instructional Aide
Nmherzner001@acariverside.com
Dear Parents, Guardian and Students:
My name is Mrs. Nancy Herzner, I am an Instructional Aide at Riverside Academy.
I work with Kindergarten and First Grades. I have also worked here during the summer working with the children in the summer school program. I really enjoy working with the younger children. This will be my 17th school year working at Riverside Academy, I am looking forward to a great school year working with your children.
Intervention Specialists
Ms. Burns
aburns@acariverside.com
To the parents/guardians,
Hello! My name is Ms. Burns and I am your child’s new Special Education teacher. I will be making sure they are receiving the services and accommodations they need as documented on their IEP and I get the pleasure of working with them to achieve their academic and behavior goals! I also get the pleasure of walking alongside your family as an advocate and support to help ensure your child is getting the best education they can to become and achieve all that they can! I just wanted to take the time to introduce myself and tell you a little bit about me. I am originally from Lima, Ohio but I’ve traveled a lot in the recent years for school and with my family! I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, OK with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Special Education and am licensed to teach both. This is my fourth year teaching and I have previous full time experience working as a 3rd, 1st/2nd and 5th grade teacher as well as a reading specialist. I am passionate about education and guiding the next generation and I treat working with your family as a true privilege and honor. I have a three-year-old daughter named Skylar. We recently moved to Cincinnati and enjoy to go on fun adventures like the park, the zoo and out for ice-cream! As for me I enjoy yoga, cycling, coffee and friends! I am so excited to work with your family for the remainder of this year. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me for anything at all!
Sincerely,
Asher K Burns
aburns@acariverside.com
ext. 40934
Mrs. Frohlich
cfrohlich@acariverside.com
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students,
My name is Cynthia Frohlich. I am the Intervention Specialist at Riverside Academy. This is my fourth year at Riverside. This school year, I am looking forward to working with the 4th and 5th grade classes. I’ll also be working with some 6th grade students as well. I anticipate each student will increase their knowledge and become a more confident student by the end of this school year. I will do my best to help make this year a positive experience for your child.
I love to read, and I want to share my love of reading with all students. We will be reading some wonderful books this school year. I enjoy listening to students’ different perspectives as we read some of my favorite books.
I appreciate it when parents/guardians contact me with any questions or concerns. Please feel free to call, email, or write a note with any questions.
513.921.7777 ext 40904
Mrs. Deborah Glosson
dglosson2@acariverside.com
Dear Riverside Parents,
My name is Deborah Glosson and I will be an Intervention Specialist at Riverside Academy. I graduated from Cedarville University and Wright State University with a degree in elementary education and special education.
I was born and raised in Michigan but I have lived in Ohio for 23 years. My husband and I have three children and a shihpoo named Winston. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, walking and watching my girls at swim meets. When I was five years old, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. My favorite Christmas as a child was receiving two wooden desks, a large chalkboard and my very own grade book to play with. My experience as an educator has ranged from teaching second grade to working with students with a variety of disabilities in the classroom and self-contained.
I could not be more thrilled to be an Intervention Specialist for this upcoming school year. I am ready to make this year the best one yet for my students! Together my students and I will learn and grow. If there is anything that I know, it’s that with hard work, kindness and a bit of GRIT, we can accomplish anything we set our minds to.
Specials
Ms. Katherine Howell – Art
khowell@acariverside.com
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students:
My name is Ms. Katherine Howell, and I am the new art teacher at Riverside Academy. This is my 13th year in education. During those years I’ve been an art teacher and dean of students at a charter school in Brooklyn, NYC. I earned my Bachelor’s in Fine Arts and a Master’s degree in Art Education at Maryland Institute College of Art. I’ve recently moved from Williamsburg, Brooklyn to the beautiful state of Ohio and here to serve you as a Riverside Lion!
I love teaching art and inspiring young students to not only love art; but appreciate one’s ability to create. I had the pleasure of seeing my kindergartners move forward, graduate middle school and being accepted into art centered high schools which is one of many happiest moments of my life. I am still in contact with many of my students who are now applying and looking forward to attending art focused colleges.
This year will be a special year for you and I to embark on a journey to explore art, creativity, and self-growth! I’m so glad to be a part of this community.
Mr. Thomas Buckley – Physical Education
tbuckley@acariverside.com
My name is TJ Buckley. I am very excited to be the teaching your children Physical Education this year. I have worked with the youth of Cincinnati for over 14 years as a coach or teacher. I have worked with high school and grade school students as well as with college student athletes. I have my Bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati and my Master’s degree from Ohio University. I am very excited to see and work with you and your children. I grew up in Cincinnati and I am a huge Bearcats and Bengals fan. I played sports growing up and even coached football and baseball in high school and college. We will be learning a lot of different games and sports along the way this year. Again I look forward to working with you and your students. If you have any questions please feel free to email me at tbuckley@acariverside.com or call at (513) 921-7777.
